Days 14 & 15

CHEERS!

Here's to WINE COUNTRY! 

Mile after mile of vineyard after vineyard on hillside after hillside.

Tasting rooms surrounded by meandering gardens.

Gentle breezes and balmy sunny mornings.

And the WINE!

Let's not forget the elixir of Bacchus.

The velvety Pinot Noir!  The golden Chardonnay!  The lush Zinfandel!

HERE'S TO NAPA AND SONOMA! 

Leaving Mendocino, we coiled through curves and switchbacks to reach Sonoma Valley in the afternoon, with time to visit two wineries - Merriam, a random choice and Kendall-Jackson, a big name we know well.  Here lie their stories: 

Merriam

Our first stop was a small, out-of-the-way winery in Healdsburg.  We came away with smiles and a soft smooth Pinot Noir.

 

 But wait a minute!  What's over there?  Maine Mud chocolate sauce?  Stonewall Kitchen jam?  In California?  Turns out that owner Peter Merriam comes from back East and was a near-Olympic skier - would you believe from Sugarloaf.  Lives in Boxford, Mass. but summers on the coast of Maine.  

A  Mainuh skiah billionaiuh with a winery in Sonoma that we chanced to visit. 

ALL RIGHT THEN!

KENDALL-JACKSON

Second stop was right down the road apiece.  The grand Kendall-Jackson mansion was absolutely beautiful, and a stroll through their gardens and vineyards brought us up close and personal with the GRAPES! 

 
We liked their Chardonnay - have drunk it many times - but came away with another Pinot Noir.  What's happening to this Chardonnay girl going red?

Oh, I know!  I'm saving the Chardonnay for

TOMORROW!!! 

         

Anybody got a straw?
 

ROMBAUER

Oh my!

We saved it for last - the creme d' la creme.

Thank you, Janice Rey, for introducing us to Rombauer!  The winery is like the Chardonnay - elegant and unforgettable. 

First there was the drive up the out-of-the-way hillside to a hidden haven.

Next came the sculpture gardens.

Do I look excited?

Wonder what the milk looks like?

 Hobbits inside?

 

 

Our tasting appointment was at 10:00 - with Terry.

Bob and Terry look over our purchases.

The Zinfandel was deep and fruity,

and the Chardonnay - no words.

And finally ...

a toast to US.

 

 Until next time, Rombauer.